Elijah Bristow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elijah Bristow
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Elijah and Susannah Bristow
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| Born | April 28, 1788 |
| Died | September 19, 1872 (aged 84) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | First cabin built, 1846 in Lane County, Oregon |
Elijah Bristow (1788–1872) was a brave pioneer who became the first white settler to build a permanent home in what is now Lane County, Oregon, United States. This happened in 1846 in the upper Willamette Valley. He and his wife, Susannah Gabbert Bristow, were very important to the early community. They helped start the first church and gave land for the first school in Pleasant Hill.
Early Life of a Pioneer
Elijah Bristow was born on April 28, 1788, in the mountains of Tazewell County, Virginia. He was the oldest child of James and Delilah Bristow. From a young age, Elijah was a skilled hunter and marksman. He loved adventure and living on the frontier.
He even served in two wars: the War of 1812 and the Black Hawk War. His adventurous spirit led him to move many times. He lived in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois before heading west. In 1812, he married Susannah Gabbert in Tennessee.
Journey to Oregon
In the spring of 1845, 58-year-old Elijah Bristow began his big journey to the Pacific Coast. He traveled across the plains using an ox team. He spent the winter of 1845 in California at Sutter's Fort.
In June 1846, he rode north on a pony with a few friends, including Eugene Skinner. They followed an old Indian trail. This trail is now a historic road. They rode through valleys and near rivers.
As they traveled, they saw a "low ridge covered with scattering oak trees." Behind it were timbered mountains. Elijah was so excited that he stood up in his stirrups and declared, "There I will take my claim!" He decided to name this beautiful spot Pleasant Hill. It reminded him of his childhood home in Virginia.
Building a Community
Elijah Bristow's claim was 640 acres. The first government in the area officially named his land "Pleasant Hill." His cabin, finished around October 1, 1846, was the very first permanent home built in what would become Lane County. Before this, only trappers and explorers had visited the area.
Other settlers soon joined him. In 1848, Elijah's family arrived in Oregon. He had written 15 letters, one to each of his children, inviting them to join him.
Elijah Bristow also became the first postmaster in Lane County. He and his wife, Susannah, were very generous. In 1849, they donated land for a church and a school, which were built in 1853. They also gave land for the oldest cemetery in Lane County.
Elijah Bristow passed away on September 19, 1872, at 84 years old. He lived to see Oregon become a state in 1859, 13 years after he built his famous first cabin.
